How well is BBC News rising to the challenge of reporting the coronavirus pandemic, and what should its role be? Should it support the Government at this time of national crisis or continue with tough forensic questioning and reporting? Roger Bolton puts listeners’ comments and questions about the coronavirus coverage to Gavin Allen, the head of BBC News output. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive Producer: Samir Shah A Juniper Connect production for BBC Radio 4

Does the BBC’s coronavirus podcast put too much emphasis on politics and not enough on medical science? That's one of the comments from listeners discussed by Roger Bolton with Dino Sofos, the editor of the Coronavirus Newscast. Roger also asks a transgender priest why she chose the issue of her identity as a subject for her Lent Talk on Radio 4, and why she was inspired by Jesus Christ’s journey of self-discovery. And a mother and daughter turn their attentions to the heavens and listen to...

Does BBC local radio have a special role to play in the coverage of the coronavirus crisis and, with many of its staff in isolation, does it have the resources to do it? Roger Bolton puts these and other questions to Chris Burns who runs BBC local radio. A reporter from Radio Gloucestershire explains how her station is coping, having only just finished covering the terrible floods in the Severn area before the virus struck. And two more listeners have been taken out of their comfort zones....

Chris Mason is now presenting Any Questions on BBC Radio 4 in a room alone and without an audience. He tells Roger Bolton how this has changed the programme, and listerners give their views on missing the applause, the boos and the hisses. Also, listeners discuss whether a coronavirus free Ambridge is absurd or a refreshing change from the real world, and if it was wise to blow up Linda Snell. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive Producer: Samir Shah A Juniper Connect...

Feedback devotes the whole programme to putting listeners’ questions and concerns to the BBC’s Director of Radio and Education James Purnell. He tells Roger Bolton how the Corporation is coping in the present crisis and what changes we can expect in the near future. And they go on to discuss the future strategic challenges facing the Corporation as its own financial problems increase and with the future of the licence fee itself under examination. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon...

In Feedback this week, the latest information on how the BBC is responding to the coronavirus crisis and making changes to its radio schedules. Two listeners will venture well out of their comfort zones to listen to a very disturbing story on the World Service. And is this the moment when slow radio comes into its own? The producer of Living National Treasures sings the praises of a sculptor’s chisel. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive Producer: Samir Shah A Juniper...

As the coronavirus outbreak is confirmed as a pandemic, the BBC’s medical correspondent Fergus Walsh talks about the daily dilemmas he faces in reporting the story, and answers comments from the audience about the coverage. The Editor of Ramblings - a long-running staple of the BBC Radio 4 schedules - responds to some listeners who think it has lost its way. And two more listeners review That Peter Crouch Podcast. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive Producer: Samir Shah A...

As the Ambridge storyline about historic child sex abuse comes to an end, Roger Bolton hears audience views and discovers how The Archers production team handled this difficult story. The Editor of The Archers, Jeremy Howe, explains how the story was planned and why a much loved character, the retired academic Jim, was chosen to be at the centre of the plot. Also, a father and daughter try - and fail - to agree on whether some new radio comics on Radio 5 Live are actually funny. And media...

A senior BBC News executive discusses the extensive coverage given to the coronavirus Covid-19 as it continues its spread around the world. The award-winning comedian Jon Holmes explains how he thinks the audience should listen to his new Radio 4 comedy series, The Skewer. And two more listener reviewers give their thoughts on a long-running Radio 4 programme. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive Producer: Samir Shah A Juniper Connect production for BBC Radio 4

Director of BBC News and Current Affairs, Fran Unsworth, answers listener concerns about the planned cuts and fears they will lead to the loss of distinctiveness for programmes such as Today, The World at One and PM. She explains the changes and why she believes there is no alternative. Also, can science help dispel racist myths? We discuss Adam Rutherford’s Book of the Week on BBC R4, How to Argue with a Racist. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Alun Beach Executive Producer: Samir Shah A...

Radio 3 had a much admired schedule, so why change it? That's one of the questions Roger Bolton puts to Radio 3's Controller of Radio 3, Alan Davey, in the last programme of the current series. Also, two listener reviewers have some pungent comments to make about a popular history podcast and The Observer’s Miranda Sawyer gives Radio 4 some radical advice. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive Producer: Samir Shah A Juniper Connect production for BBC Radio 4

As the Government boycotts BBC Radio 4’s the Today programme, Roger Bolton asks the Editor, Sarah Sands, for her view and how she will respond. Also on Feedback this week, two more listeners - a mother and daughter - are taken out of their comfort zones to listen to George the Poet, with surprising results. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive Producer: Samir Shah A Juniper Connect production for BBC Radio 4

Has the BBC overdone its coverage of Prince Andrew’s relationship with a convicted paedophile? The BBC’s royal correspondent Jonny Dymond discusses this issue and talks about the challenges of reporting the royals. Also, do you have to be middle class and Oxbridge educated to get in - and get ahead - in the BBC? And two listeners review a late night Radio 3 discussion programme. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive Producer: Samir Shah A Juniper Connect production for BBC...

Listeners ask if it was fair of Radio 4’s The Long View to compare Extinction Rebellion with the Bonfire of the Vanities, conducted by a fifteenth century prophet of doom? The programme’s series producer discusses the comparison with Roger Bolton. We also hear from the producer of Only Artists, a programme about which few listeners are indifferent. Most either love it or hate it. And two listeners give their views on the World Service radio programme which suggested Zimbabwean grandmothers...

The Today programme presenter Nick Robinson defends broadcast coverage of the election, while also admitting that some mistakes are made. He also discusses how he is preparing for chairing the next leaders’ debate. Two young people who had never listened to BBC radio until last week are given the task of reviewing a second popular Radio 4 programme. Will PM persuade them to tune-in in the future? Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive Producer: Samir Shah A Juniper Connect...

Why will there only be two party leaders in the big election debate - not three or more? That's one of the questions a BBC Executive responsible for the election coverage addresses on this week's Feedback. The producer of the latest bumper BBC podcast, Tunnel 29, explains why she turned to the TV serial Eastenders for inspiration. And two young people try listening to Radio 4 for the first time and give their reaction. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive Producer: Samir...

Does the BBC censor its radio comedies in the run-up to the Election? Does every joke about Boris Johnson have to be followed by one about Jeremy Corbyn? In Feedback this week, the executive in charge of The Now Show, Dead Ringers and the News Quiz, answers these questions and also addresses allegations of left wing bias in BBC radio comedy programmes. Another senior BBC Executive explains how he hopes to persuade young people to switch on to the news, when most seem to want to run a mile....

Does the Radio 4 series The Corrections need correcting? In Feedback this week, its presenter Jo Fidgen faces some critical questions from listeners. The head of the BBC news output, Gavin Allen, tells Roger Bolton he is actually looking forward to the General Election campaign. But will he get rid of those vox pops which irritate many Feedback listeners? And does the World Service care about listeners in the UK? If so why does the schedule shift when the clocks change? Presenter: Roger...

Does Radio 4's The Corrections need correcting? The programme that claims major news stories could be misleading or even deeply flawed has come in for criticism from some listeners. Roger Bolton considers their concerns. Also - was one of Kirsty Wark’s interviews on Start the Week unfair to vegans? And two more Radio 4 listeners turned reviewers leave their comfort zones and head for the great unknown - or, in their case, Radio 5 Live. Presenter: Roger Bolton Producer: Kate Dixon Executive...